Daggett v. Commission on Governmental Ethics & Election Practices

BOUDIN, Circuit Judge.

This appeal, by applicants whose motion to intervene was denied, stems from Maine’s enactment in November 1996 of a set of campaign reform statutes. Adopted by Maine voters through a ballot initiative, the statute — denominated “An Act to Reform Campaign Finance” (“the Reform Act”) — included both public funding of state campaigns and extensive regulation of contributions and expenditures. 1996 Me. Legis. Serv. Initiated Bill eh. 5 (I.B.5) (L.D.1823) (West).

The public financing provisions, called the Maine Clean Election Act, Me.Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 21-A, § 1121 et seq.,…